Thousands join a protest in Taipei to oppose the import of US pork containing the additive ractopamine amid food safety fears. APThousands of people thronged Taipei's streets yesterday for the annual "Autumn Struggle" protest march organized by labor groups, with much of the anger focused on the government's decision to ease restrictions on imports of US pork. Taiwan's main opposition party the Kuomintang rallied its supporters to join in the march for the first time, having mounted an increasingly strident campaign against the pork move, which it says threatens food safety. President Tsai Ing-wen announced in August that the government would from January 1 allow in US pork containing ractopamine, an additive that enhances leanness but which is banned in the European Union and China, as well as US beef more than 30 months old. Tsai's government and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party say the decision brings the island into line with international norms, is not a safety threat and will boost Taiwan-US ties.

Source: The Standard November 22, 2020 19:13 UTC